ACC hires architect for Highland Mall

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees have Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects selected as the architect and engineering team to renovate the former J.C. Penney property at Highland Mall.

The former retail area will be transformed into an expansion of the ACC campus with specific space dedicated to math learning.

Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects is a state-certified HUB firm. Since being founded in 1985, the company has tackled academic architecture including The University of Texas Duren Residence Hall, Texas State University School of Nursing Building, and St. Edward's University Student Housing.

The firm has also worked on such civic and government projects as Downtown's Austin Museum of Art.

The college expects to complete programming the use of space in the former Penney store by the end of February. This process identifies all of the individual spaces needed for the facility and will be used by BGKA to develop the architectural plan.

The college distrrict is finalizing the selection of the site's advisory committee, which will include community members.
 

Executive vice president of finance and administration said "community input is extremely important on all our projects, and ACC looks forwards to continuing to work with the Highland neighborhood groups throughout this process."

This is not the first retail property ACC has purchased to expand their facilities. The former Macy's and Dillard's women's store at Highland Mall as well as the land under the core of the Highland Mall is owned by ACC.

The J.C Penney's renovations are expected to be completed by the fall 2014 semester. The community college is working with RedLeaf Properties in collaboration with the City of Austin's Airport Boulevard initiative to further explore and expand the opportunities Highland site provides for long term development.